NATO defense ministers met today in Brussels and set new objectives after assessing the current security environment. Albania’s Defense Minister Pirro Vengu attended the meeting and announced that NATO officially included Corridor 8 in its plans and critical infrastructure. The corridor starts at the Durrës–Porto Romano port complex and reaches the Black Sea.

Vengu described this as a concrete achievement and said it places Albania at the center of regional plans and key infrastructure where the Alliance will focus in the coming years. Prime Minister Edi Rama also reacted and said NATO recognized Corridor 8 as a security corridor for collective defense. He stressed that this decision strengthens regional security.

During the meeting, ministers discussed the future of operations in which Albania participates, especially the KFOR mission in Kosovo. Allies reviewed plans to increase capacities. Vengu said Albania will expand its role in KFOR and will deploy its air force for the first time.

Vengu said Albania is working closely with the United States and U.S. European Command to reassess the mission’s future. He added that Kosovo’s newly elected government should use this opportunity to deepen cooperation with NATO.

Ministers also discussed defense spending and military industry reforms. Allied countries are increasing investments and restructuring their defense industries to generate more capacity. Vengu said Albania has started this process with determination. The country is building new industrial capacities, has signed several contracts, and is negotiating others. He said allies welcomed these steps.

Vengu also stressed that Albanian and Turkish teams, together with NATO’s Brussels secretariat, have started preparing the 2027 NATO Summit in Tirana.

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